Touch sensor

Abstract

A touch sensor includes: a plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of sensing wires connected with the respective electrodes, and formed by extending in a first direction, wherein at least one of the electrodes includes a resistance element which has a shape that is at least partially bent in a unit electrode region and has a resistance value that is changed to correspond to a pressure of a touch. A touch location and pressure can be sensed with the same elements, so that the touch sensor may have increased function yet remain thin.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A touch sensor, comprising:
 a plurality of first electrodes; 
 a plurality of sensing wires connected to the first electrodes and extending in a first direction; and 
 a plurality of second electrodes disposed on a same layer as the first electrodes and configured to form mutual-capacitance together with the first electrodes, 
 wherein each of the first electrodes comprises a resistance element having a shape that is at least partially bent in a first portion of a unit electrode region and a resistance value that changes in response to a pressure of a touch, 
 each of the first electrodes comprises a first sub-electrode having a polygonal shape in a second portion of the unit electrode region disposed adjacent at least one of the second electrodes to form mutual-capacitance, and a second sub-electrode connected with the first sub-electrode and having the resistance element, and 
 the second portion of the unit electrode region has a greater area in plan view than the first portion of the unit electrode region. 
 
     
     
       2. The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the resistance element has a spiral shape. 
     
     
       3. The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the resistance element has a zigzag shape. 
     
     
       4. The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance element operates as a strain gauge. 
     
     
       5. The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of the touch is detected from the changed resistance value of the resistance element, and
 a position of the touch is detected from a capacitance change of the first electrodes. 
 
     
     
       6. The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the first sub-electrode is disposed closer to the second electrode than the second sub-electrode. 
     
     
       7. The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the second sub-electrode is disposed between the first sub-electrode and the sensing wires. 
     
     
       8. A touch sensor, comprising:
 a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction; 
 a plurality of second electrodes disposed on a same layer as the first electrodes and arranged in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, to form mutual-capacitance together with an adjacent first electrode; 
 a plurality of first connectors configured to connect the first electrodes; and 
 a plurality of second connectors configured to connect the second electrodes, 
 wherein both of the first and second electrodes comprise a resistance element having a zigzag pattern, and each of the first and second electrodes comprises: 
 a first sub-electrode having a polygonal shape disposed in a first portion of a unit electrode region to form mutual-capacitance with a first sub-electrode of an adjacent second or first electrode; 
 a second sub-electrode disposed in a second portion of the unit electrode region and having the resistance element, and 
 the first portion of the unit electrode region has a greater area in plan view than the second portion of the unit electrode region. 
 
     
     
       9. The touch sensor of  claim 8 , wherein one side of a first sub-electrode of the first electrode faces one side of first sub-electrodes of second electrodes adjacent to the first electrode. 
     
     
       10. A touch sensor of a display device, comprising:
 a plurality of first electrodes; 
 a plurality of sensing wires connected to the first electrodes and extending in a first direction; and 
 a plurality of second electrodes disposed on a same layer as the first electrodes and configured to form mutual-capacitance together with the first electrodes, 
 wherein each of the first electrodes comprises a resistance element having a shape that is at least partially bent in a first portion of a unit electrode region and a resistance value that changes in response to a pressure of a touch, and 
 each of the first electrodes comprises a first sub-electrode having a polygonal shape in a second portion of the unit electrode region disposed adjacent at least one of the second electrodes to form mutual-capacitance and a second sub-electrode having the resistance element.